Analysis of Resource Planning Methods It has been said: “A program is... An instruction for a fool... A guide for a wise person. In retrospect, planning is an important part of project management for anyone who has been and ever will be engaged in such a task. This monograph will be an analysis of the concept of resource planning, an evaluation of the various methods used to schedule resources, the benefits and challenges associated with each, and methods of when each would be most appropriate. A choice will also be made as to which is most appropriate for the authors' Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) project. In resource planning, as with almost everything in life, there are benefits and challenges. Some of the benefits of resource planning can be listed as follows: improves the probability of the project team achieving its objective, establishes overall planning parameters, helps in determining staffing requirements, helps in determining the resource loading basis, identifies long-term elements and high-risk areas (Gray, Larson, 2011). The challenges to resource planning are; have sufficient details to control the project. Too many details are difficult to maintain. There is not enough detail and analyzing the program is difficult. Communication will definitely be tested in conveying project status to others. When communication is poor, deficient, or nonexistent, project times and costs can be extended and/or increased, which can lead to unfavorable conditions and even project failure (SRS, 2010). There are numerous resource planning methods; the methods that will be examined here are the Milestone Scheduling System and the activity network/Critical Path Method (CPM). With the Milestone planning system… halfway through the document… tasks defined with long-term schedules. As has been demonstrated in project management, some form of resource planning is required for the project, depending on its scope and size. At the beginning of the planning phase, the project team must establish the appropriate method and apply the method to be able to meet the expected and unexpected consequences. Works CitedGray, C. F., & Larson, E. W. (2011). Project Management: The Management Process (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Galloway Police (2006). CPM planning: how the industry sees its use. Cost Engineering, 48(1), 24-29. Retrieved on 1 July 2011 from ABI/INFORM Complete. (Document ID: 974632461). Savannah River Site (SRS) Project Controls (2010). Planning and Scheduling 101 Module 3. Retrieved June 24, 2011, from http://shrine01.srs.gov/ProjectWeb/controls/ProjectControls/P&S101.htm